Updates
Check out the latest news and keep up with progress
PROJECT UPDATE
Central Michigan University Press
CREATOR
2 days ago
Project Update: HUZZAH! Stretch Goal 1 Is Unlocked!
Thank you all for your support! We are thrilled to announce that our first stretch goal was just met! That means that when your copy of The Blue Way arrives at your doorstep, there will be a never-before-seen NEW CHARACTER included in the tearaway character pad for enhanced gameplay!
We have even MORE cool bonus features on the horizon for this campaign. Keep up the support and we'll unlock the second stretch goal yet!
We have even MORE cool bonus features on the horizon for this campaign. Keep up the support and we'll unlock the second stretch goal yet!
PROJECT UPDATE
Central Michigan University Press
CREATOR
8 days ago
Project Update: New Stretch Goals: The New Way and an Alternate Deck
Hello, all!
We can't believe that it has been more than a week since we launched this campaign, and we have already come so far! Today we have an update with something for you to enjoy now...and something to unlock later!
First, we are delighted to share something novel: a digital exhibit building off the themes of The Blue Way to expand both its conversation about colonialism and the world of the game beyond the box. Recent CMU Museum Studies minor program graduate Samantha Krayniak created The Blue Way: A Digital Exhibit to focus specifically on how museums have played a role in colonization and what is being done in the modern day to decolonize their exhibits and spaces. Check it out here: https://cmichpress.com/2026/06/13/the-blue-way-a-digital-exhibit/
Second, as we approach our first stretch goal, we're already looking forwards to the next one! Remember, all of these components are already available as print and play elements with The Blue Way Curriculum Guide. The stretch goals will allow us to produce them as physical elements and commission some new art as detailed below. We are so excited to include these bonus features in this campaign! Are you ready to see what's next?
We can't believe that it has been more than a week since we launched this campaign, and we have already come so far! Today we have an update with something for you to enjoy now...and something to unlock later!
First, we are delighted to share something novel: a digital exhibit building off the themes of The Blue Way to expand both its conversation about colonialism and the world of the game beyond the box. Recent CMU Museum Studies minor program graduate Samantha Krayniak created The Blue Way: A Digital Exhibit to focus specifically on how museums have played a role in colonization and what is being done in the modern day to decolonize their exhibits and spaces. Check it out here: https://cmichpress.com/2026/06/13/the-blue-way-a-digital-exhibit/
Second, as we approach our first stretch goal, we're already looking forwards to the next one! Remember, all of these components are already available as print and play elements with The Blue Way Curriculum Guide. The stretch goals will allow us to produce them as physical elements and commission some new art as detailed below. We are so excited to include these bonus features in this campaign! Are you ready to see what's next?
- $16,500 - LOCKED - The New Way and an Alternate Deck!
- Once we unlock this stretch goal, Backers will access a new game AND a new alternate deck for The Blue Way! These items are already included in The Blue Way Curriculum Guide as print-and-plays. Unlocking this stretch goal will give all Backers the chance to play with these awesome additions in a physical form.
- The New Way, designed by Dr. Allen White, is a role-playing game about engineering ethics. It shares some bones with The Blue Way but is a completely different experience! Players step into the roles of employees at a fictional biomedical component supplier under new -- and unscrupulous -- management. It will be made into a deck of cards (instructions and reflection included) with new art in a tuck box!
- The alternate deck for The Blue Way provides players with more opportunities to explore the nuances of the relationship between the Sàthani and Dusians. Colonialism comes in many forms, and focus is often on violence and repression, but historically colonialism is far more complex. This new deck of cards adds the daily lived experiences of the people, portraying the colonialism by including seemingly simple cultural exchanges like food, games, and developing inter-racial relationships between the Sàthani and Dusians. The deck was designed by Dr. Jonathan Truitt, a professor of Latin American history who researches Spanish and Indigenous interactions during Mexico’s colonial period.
- To expedite play and demonstrate the impact of character choices on the broader culture, this second deck includes alternate rules and access to a downloadable pre-drawn map by Tak Moran (optional for game play, but reduces playtime). Players combine part of the core deck and part of this alternate deck to play, enhancing replayability. In standard gameplay, there are consequences when a character resists or rebels, but in this version, players track the impact of acceptance by slowly coloring the map blue every time a character decides not to resist. At the end of the game, the merging of Sàthani and Dusian culture that results through player choices is visible, providing an additional dimension of gameplay and discussion.
Stay tuned for more updates, announcements, and cool things related to The Blue Way!
The CMich Press Team
PROJECT UPDATE
Central Michigan University Press
CREATOR
14 days ago
Project Update: VICTORY!
Hello, all!
We were elated to wake up this morning and see that The Blue Way had met its initial crowdfunding goal overnight. THANK YOU a million times to everyone who has helped make this happen! We appreciate your support beyond words!
There is still a lot of time to work towards meeting our stretch goals -- and we are all crossing our fingers that we will unlock the pack! Starting with the new Castaway character, they are all epic new ways to interact with The Blue Way. Stay tuned for more updates on that front!
Thank you again -- and keep up the awesome work!
We were elated to wake up this morning and see that The Blue Way had met its initial crowdfunding goal overnight. THANK YOU a million times to everyone who has helped make this happen! We appreciate your support beyond words!
There is still a lot of time to work towards meeting our stretch goals -- and we are all crossing our fingers that we will unlock the pack! Starting with the new Castaway character, they are all epic new ways to interact with The Blue Way. Stay tuned for more updates on that front!
Thank you again -- and keep up the awesome work!
PROJECT UPDATE
Central Michigan University Press
CREATOR
15 days ago
Project Update: Introducing...The Castaway (Stretch Goal #1)
Hello, all!
As we go into our third day of crowdfunding, we are on the edge of our seats! Not only are we just a few pledges away from making our initial goal, but we have a special stretch goal announcement. Once we meet our $10,000 starting goal, we'll turn our eyes towards $13,000... which will unlock The Castaway, a nuanced new character (and sheet) with a unique backstory and different mechanics for gameplay!
$13,000 - LOCKED - New character sheet!
As we go into our third day of crowdfunding, we are on the edge of our seats! Not only are we just a few pledges away from making our initial goal, but we have a special stretch goal announcement. Once we meet our $10,000 starting goal, we'll turn our eyes towards $13,000... which will unlock The Castaway, a nuanced new character (and sheet) with a unique backstory and different mechanics for gameplay!
$13,000 - LOCKED - New character sheet!
- The Castaway – Twelve years ago, you and a handful of others shipwrecked off the shore near where the Sàthani reside. You thanked your god for saving you, but shortly afterwards, the Sàthani captured and enslaved you and the other surviving crew members. Most of your crewmates died or remained enslaved. You, however, found solace and peace in the Sàthani way. In a few years you gained your freedom and became the adopted son of the past Reeve, Peigi. You even married her daughter, Ennae. You now believe that it wasn’t the god of Dusia who saved you but rather the half-mad Àdatan. After all, only a crazed god would send a Dusian to help resist Dusia.
- This new character sheet arrives with new art from Samuel Araya and a special set of rules! Since this player was a Dusian, they cannot resist the Dusians directly. Instead, when Sàthani players resist, the Castaway may support their resistance. When the player chooses this action, they will remove one of their squares in place of a Sàthani character removing one of theirs.
- The Castaway character is based off the real story of Gonzalo Guerrero and his life with the Maya.
We have also added more information to the "What's New" section of our story page, which dives deeper into what you can expect from the game components. Learn more about the characters currently available with the base game set -- would you play as the Sathani town leader, a farmer, a witch, or something else? We are also excited to outline some of the features of The Blue Way Curriculum Guide, which will be AWESOME! Look for another update on that front with more details...
Last but not least, you may have noticed a new item on our Add-Ons page! We are proud to announce that we will have CMU Card Sleeves available to add to your order, so that you can protect your favorite cards with your favorite university's colors!
That's all for now -- thank you again to everyone who has pledged their support for this project and brought us this far! Let's bring it home with a strong finish, and start working towards bringing The Castaway to life!
PROJECT UPDATE
Central Michigan University Press
CREATOR
16 days ago
Project Update: 24 Hours Later...
Backers, we are AMAZED. Within just 24 hours, you have brought us to within less than $2,000 of meeting our initial goal! We are enormously grateful!
Please keep up the momentum -- and stay tuned for news about stretch goals!
Please keep up the momentum -- and stay tuned for news about stretch goals!
Community Leaders
Become an active participant Learn more
